Practice Guide for U6-U8 Coaches www.dprys.org (920) 785-0203
CONGATULATIONS! You are a soccer coach. Now what??? oles of a youth soccer coach: Provide a safe, fun, and educational environment Communicate your plans with the parents o Schedule 6-8 practices on the same nights, times and locations as your games o Set a treat schedule parent bringing treats should sit on the sideline with the kids o Take time to introduce yourself and meet the other parents at the first practice Give plenty of praise - focus on effort, not outcome Divide playing time evenly e organized at game time know your lineup now the basic rules and how to restart the game when it goes out of bounds Find other parents who are willing to help out Contact us if you need help elax and have fun WITH the kids! Coaching tips: Let the game be the teacher Limit your instructions to 15 seconds Ask questions that engage the kids and encourage problem solving eep everyone moving limit standing in lines Use a whistle to get their attention Talk to the kids at their level understand their limitations and why they are there During the game, do your best to keep the kids involved in the play Let the game be the teacher (this one is EALLY important) What NOT to do: Never criticize or yell at the players or referees Don t try to handle difficult players or parents on your own email or call us so we can help You have accomplished your goal if your players want to come back and play next year!
Practice # 1 Topic of the day Shooting C 2 Team Shooting (10 minutes) Divide into 2 teams - Team one starts shooting with team 2 shagging behind the goal ound robin, each player gets 3 turns to take a 1-touch shot at the goal Have a player from Team 2 play goalie Play 3 vs 2 to the goal (15 minutes) Divide into 2 teams - 3 offense vs 2 defenders plus a goalie Players take turns playing defense and goalie Have players focus on trying to shoot as soon as they think they can see the goal If the ball goes out, blow a whistle and have someone kick it back in Quick restarts will keep everyone moving there will be time to teach throw-ins, corner and goal kicks later Lightning (10 minutes) 1 player starts as the goalie and the rest of the team forms a line about 10 yards away Coach rolls a ball and player gets one touch to shoot it in the goal If it gets stopped or it goes wide the shooter becomes the next goalie and the goalie goes to the back of the shooting line If the goalie gets scored on twice in a row they are out and the next person in line steps in to become the goal keeper C Practice # 1 Coaching Points for Shooting 2 Team Shooting Get started as soon as you have 2-3 players. Add players to the teams as they arrive. Have a coach or parent organize balls for the offense so the next player in line can start right away. Once the kids have the routine down, you should have time to work 1:1 with players on their kicking skills. Play 5 vs 3 to the goal Have a coach or parent help set up boundaries with cones so you can get started quickly. Take 15 seconds to explain, then GO! The first 2-3 turns will likely be unsuccessful that s O! On the next turn, ask.. o Does anyone have any ideas on how to get past the defense? Is anyone else on the team open? Is passing the ball going to work? Have them do the next turn down in slow motion and point out that their teammate is open. Have players focus on trying to shoot as soon as they think they can see the goal. If the ball goes out of bounds, blow a whistle and have a player kick it back in as quickly as possible. It s O to play without a goalie during the early practices, especially if you are using cones to mark the goals. Lightning Again.. take only 15 seconds to explain, then GO! Have a coach or parent help shag and organize balls for the offense. Set a goal for the number of points to score.
Practice # 2 Topic of the day Dribbling Dribbling through cones relay racing (10 minutes) Divide into 3-4 groups and set up cones, spaced evenly over about 10 yards Have each player dribble to the left side of one cone, then the right side of the next After one player passes through a couple cones, send the next player in line Sharks and innows (15 minutes) Set up a 10 x 15 yard rectangle or a 10 yard circle All players start with a ball (minnows) except for one player (the shark) Sharks try to kick the balls outside the playing area. If the ball leaves the playing area, the player becomes a shark. Last minnow wins and becomes the shark for the next game. S Dribbling through gates (10 minutes) Take pairs of cones in place them a few yards apart to create gates Each player will have a ball and dribble through the gates As they get through each gate, they need to go left or right through another gate Have players focus on trying to shoot as soon as they think they can see the goal If the ball goes out, blow a whistle and have someone kick it back in Quick restarts will keep everyone moving there will be time to teach throw-ins, corner and goal kicks later Practice # 2 Coaching Points for Dribbling Dribbling through cones relay racing Get started as soon as you have 2-3 players. Add players to the teams as they arrive. Have the players try to keep the ball as close to themselves as possible when dribbling. emind them to keep their head up and look for the next cone. eep track of time (in your head) and encourage them to beat their fastest relay. Sharks and innows eep everyone moving if they stand around, become a shark and help stir the pool The key to surviving is keeping the ball close and shielding the ball from the sharks Dribbling through gates emind them to keep their head up and look for the next cone. When they can, make sure the players try to dribble with their other foot as well, just to get them used to that. Option: Have the players dribble randomly through the playing area. When you blow a whistle, they need to get through a gate as fast as they can. Advanced players should try dribbling with the outside of their foot to help them get through the gates faster. Always remember, keep your instructions to 15 seconds and then GO! Have a coach or parent help shag and organize balls for the offense. Set a goal for the number of points to score.
Practice # 3 Topic of the day Passing Passing and moving (10 minutes) Set up two lines of cones about 5-10 yards apart After they pass to their partner a few times, have them back up 2 steps Continue to step back until they re too far apart, then have them start taking 2 steps forward after a few passes Passing through cones (10 minutes) Set up one line of cones spread evenly across about 10 yards Form two lines, about 1-2 yards off each side of the cones While running down the field, the players take turns passing the ball to each other between the cones Air dribbling (15 minutes) The player with the ball cannot move while they are holding the ball. They must.. o pass it to a teammate o run while the ball is in the air (they can throw it to themselves 3 times) Tossing the ball in the air and heading it across the goal line scores 2 points Passing the ball across the goal line scores 1 point If the ball hits the ground, the other team gets it Set a rule that the players can only touch the ball 3 times then they must pass Practice # 3 Coaching Points for Passing Passing and moving Players should plant one foot next to the ball and carry their body through the ball as they kick, almost as if they keep running while they kick Have the players try to pass with the inside of their foot and not their toes eep them looking straight at their partner while they pass. Their hips should be square to their target. Passing through cones eep the players close enough that they can make a successful pass to their partner Discuss that it is important to run to where the pass will be so they are ready to receive it Air dribbling After a few (unsuccessful) tries, pause the play and ask the player with the ball.. o who can you throw it to? o where should your teammates go to be open? Start introducing throw-ins, corner kicks and goal kicks Encourage them to keep their heads up so they can see their teammates Pause the play a few times and ask the players.. o are you open for a pass? o where could you move to be open? Point out the right time to pass is EFOE the defense gets to them Have the players try to pass the ball wide and not always down the middle of the field
Practice # 4 Topic of the day Trapping Windows (10 minutes) Divide into 2 teams and make 2 circles, one inside the other Players on the outside have a ball and dribble clockwise around the outer circle When you whistle, they stop and pass the ball to a player in the inner circle After 5 minutes, switch teams Two small-sided games (10 minutes) Divide into 4 teams and create 2 small playing fields (Team 1 vs. Team 2) Set up 4 goals, one in each corner of the field each team has two goals to defend Play for 5 minutes and then switch the teams (Team 1 vs. Team 3) Steal the bacon (15 minutes) Divide into 2 teams, and starting at 1 give each player a number Each team stands on their end line The coach rolls out a ball and yells out a number. The player on each team with that number races to trap the ball and dribble it back to their side 2 1 1 2 1 2 3 4 3 4 3 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 4 C Set a rule that the players can only touch the ball 3 times then they must pass Practice # 4 Coaching Points for Trapping Windows e ready for the whistle. Trap and pass back as quickly as possible. Two small-sided games eep your head up while dribbling so you can see your teammates Emphasize that they need to try to pass across the field to try and score Pause play and ask.. o Do you have a teammate that is open for a pass? o Is another goal open? Should someone move to the open space for a pass? Steal the bacon e ready to hear your number Control the ball quickly and kick it back to your side as hard as you can Continue working on throw-ins, corner kicks and goal kicks Pause the play a few times and ask the players.. o are you open for a pass? o where could you move to be open?
Practice # 5 Topic of the day Defending nee tag (10 minutes) Create a square about 15 x 15 yards, making about 1/3 of the players wearing a pinnie they are the taggers They must tag another player s knees to freeze them Once frozen, they need another teammate to tag their knee to unfreeze them Play for 3 minutes then switch the taggers 1 vs. 1 (10 minutes) Create a rectangle about 7 x 10 yards with a goal about 2-3 yards wide in one corner Defense and Offense start on opposite sides The coach kicks a ball out to the offense They score 1 point if they shoot it through the goal, 2 points if they dribble it through. 3 team defending (15 minutes) Divide into 3 teams. One team wears pinnies and is trying to score on either goal. The other two teams try to play keep away from the team with the pinnies. If the team wearing the pinnies scores, the ball is put back into play by the other teams If the ball goes out of bounds, it is a turnover to the other team Play for 3-5 minutes and switch the team wearing the pinnies Set a rule that the players can only touch the ball 3 times then they must pass O O O O D D D C G G G Practice # 5 Coaching Points for Defending nee tag Hustle! Get your teammate s attention by calling their name 1 vs. 1 Hustle to challenge the other player it s ok to miss Stay between the ball and the goal e ready to chase the player if they get past 3 team defending Only 1-2 defenders challenging the offense at a time Cover other players to cut off the pass Spread out so you your teammates can clear the ball by passing to you e aggressive on defense challenge right away and all the time un back to cover on defense if the offense gets past you Clear the ball to the sides of the field
Practice # 6 Topic of the day Game Play ick the ball off the cone (10 minutes) Set up a rectangle about 10 x 15 yards, placing 4 balls on 4 cones in the middle of the playing field Divide the players, putting half on each end line of the field Teams score 1 point for knocking a ball off a cone alls are placed back on the cones during the game Play 3 games for 3-4 minutes each. Losing team does jumping jacks Shooting by the numbers (10 minutes) ake 3 even lines and give each person a number Coach calls out a number and that person has to run to the ball and try to score The first player to score gets 2 points, then scoring is 1 point per goal Have a content to see who can score the most points Numbers up (15 minutes) Divide into 2 teams, making sure that one team has fewer players than the other The team with fewer players gets 2 points for each goal, the team with more players gets 1 point for each goal Set a rule that the players can only touch the ball 3 times then they must pass 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 C Practice # 6 Coaching Points for Game Play. ick the ball off the cone Point your body at the ball hips square to the target Follow through on your shot Shooting by the numbers e ready! Hustle to ball Numbers up You are building situations where you have more offensive numbers so you want to encourage them to look to shoot and try to score. In defensive situations, you want to challenge the offense but run back to cover if you the offense gets past you Put it all together o Throw-ins, corner kicks, defense, hustle, heads-up play, passing.. Have fun!